Ortonville-Gerald Marsh recently shared some long overdue accolades for efforts during World War II.
For Gerald, now 79, the day-long trek to the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C’dedicated to those who served’was a short journey compared to the years since he and his brothers were first called to action.
If a local name was synonymous with WWII it would be the Marsh brothers’George, Glenn and Gerald all grew up in Ortonville, attended Ortonville High School. When duty called in the second world war, they all answered.
George, the oldest brother , entered the army in February 1943 and was attached to the 99th Infantry Division, served under General George Patton and was killed Feb. 3, 1945 during the ‘Battle of the Bulge.?
Glenn, twin brother of Gerald, entered the war Sept. 2, 1943 and served in both North Africa and Italy. He was captured by the Germans after a battle in southern France. Three months later the Americans caught up and liberated Glenn and a group of about 350 prisoners of war. He returned home to Ortonville June 11, 1945. He died in 2003.
Gerald was called July 16, 1943, shipped to Europe in February 1944 and assigned to the Fifth Armored Division. Following the June 6, 1944 Allied invasion of France, Gerald arrived at Utah Beach–a key landing site for the American troops in Normandy.
‘Although it was long after the troops invaded I remember the water still being a rusty color from the blood,? said Marsh. ‘We waded ashore in about three-feet of water, the beach was bombed out and pretty rough.?
On Oct. 2, 1944, Gerald was part of the first American troops that liberated Paris and recalls the welcome by the French citizens who greeted the soldiers as they marched into the once Nazi-occupied city.
‘It took three days to get through (Paris),? said Marsh. ‘It was a big party’they were really glad to see us.?
Soon after the liberation of Paris, Gerald was wounded by a shell fragment during a morning attack in a small German village. He was treated at a first aid station and returned to action later that day. A few hours later while riding on a tank engaged in a firefight with German soldiers in a pillbox, a .51 caliber armor piercing bullet grazed the tank’s armor and passed into Gerald’s body.
‘I knew I was hit’it kind of burned but I didn’t lose conscientiousness,? said Gerald. ‘I was taken to a hospital in Paris, where they removed the bullet.?
When Gerald awoke for the surgery, the .51 caliber bullet had been placed on a string and around his neck’a gift from the surgeon. That same bullet is on his key chain today.
Set to return to combat, news of his two brothers arrived at the Paris hospital where Gerald was staying. The Army reported that George was missing in action and Glenn was a POW.
Recognizing the family connection and that Gerald may be the only surviving brother, the army ordered his medical discharge.
The decision to send Gerald home came after five Sullivan brothers were assigned to the crew of USS Juneau in February 1942 and remained with the ship through Atlantic operations. During combat actions at Guadal Canal the Juneau was torpedoed and sunk Nov. 13, 1942.
The death of the five Sullivan brothers prompted a proposal, but no ‘SullivanAct? restricting same-family members from serving together was ever enacted by Congress.
After the Sullivans? death, branches of the service recognized the possible ramifications of family members in the same unit.
Now, 61 years later on July 15, 2004 Gerald, the only surviving Marsh brother visited the Michigan monument at the National World War II Memorial in Washington D.C.
‘I didn’t think I’d ever see this monument,? said Marsh. ‘It’s truly beautiful but took way too long to complete. The other war monuments came way before the WWII monument.?
‘Many soldiers died before they ever had a chance see this’including my brothers.?
The National World War II Memorial, the first national memorial dedicated to those who served during WWII honors the 16 million who served in the armed forces of the U.S. during World War II, more than 400,000 who died and the millions who supported the war effort from home. On April 29, 2004, the National World War II Memorial opened to the public. It was formally dedicated May 29.